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 TODAY'S "UNSAVED" CHURCH by Andrew Strom


[b]TODAY'S "UNSAVED" CHURCH[/b]

It is an interesting fact that Charles Finney spent his entire ministry preaching to professing Christians. And yet he was called the greatest 'evangelist'! What he was doing was evangelizing the church people - because he found that most of them were not living in a state of true salvation at all. The church was 'unsaved'! Thus his first calling was to the believers of his day - to see them converted. -Just like Jesus and the apostles were called first to the Jews - the 'believers' of their time. Finney found himself preaching piercing salvation messages his whole life in church buildings, Bible Colleges and so-on. The "Christians" must be saved.
Actually, you see this pattern in most Revivals down the centuries. In many cases, what Revival was, was the church coming into true SALVATION for the first time. They THOUGHT they were saved before, but they had been under a delusion. When the 'Revivalist' arrived and preached to them, suddenly they saw that they were undone and in a lost state, and multitudes were converted. Revival almost always begins with the church.

I believe it is no different today, especially in America where church attendance is very high (-around 40 percent) - the highest percentage in the world. Everyone agrees that there is a lot of 'nominal' Christianity and 'social' Christianity going on - as well as a huge number of people who attend churches where they are told they are 'saved' when clearly they are not.

It is difficult not to come to the conclusion that most of these churches are like "holding pens" for the damned - telling people that they are 'OK', when in reality they are headed for destruction. Personally, I find this very hard to take. What will God do to the preachers who are lulling the flock to sleep in this way? And when will men be found who will dare to tell the "Christians" that many are not 'saved' at all - but still in their sins? -Such is the role of the true prophets of God. Such is the role of the coming "John the Baptists".

Of course, Finney was hated and despised by church men for saying such things. How DARE he preach in such a way that assumed that many 'fine church members' were unsaved? How offensive and ill- mannered! But Finney had such a passion and a burden to REACH THE 'CHRISTIANS' with the gospel. -And this was exactly what God had called him to do.

Today we see exactly the same thing in the West as Finney saw in his day. We see a church that is very largely UNSAVED. A truly "saved" church (in the New Testament sense) behaves and looks and sounds utterly different to what we have today.

Even in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles we often find many "previously-saved-but-no-longer-walking-in-it" believers. Friends, this is not a state of 'salvation'. The Bible is very clear that only those who CONTINUE in New Testament Christianity and who "overcome" will be saved. These people are lost. You are either walking as a 'new creature' in love with Christ or you are not. If you are not walking in it then do not assume you are "saved" - no matter what some preacher tells you. It is all or nothing with God. The Bible tells us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling". I would be very surprised if more than a quarter of the West's so-called "Spirit-filled" believers are actually walking with a clean heart before God. What on earth do they think will happen to them on Judgement Day?

Added to this, we have millions upon millions of 'mainline' believers who literally NEVER get the opportunity to find out about "FULL" salvation. -The Holy Spirit is never made real to them, and many have never been fully BAPTIZED in water, either.

Now, we have already discussed elsewhere how people became Christians in the Bible. We know that there were THREE THINGS that always needed to happen when someone wanted to become a Christian in the New Testament:

(1) Repentance

(2) Water Baptism

(3) Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

-Every time, these were the three things that happened STRAIGHT AWAY. (-See Acts 2:37-41, Acts 8:12-20, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6, Acts 22:16, Heb 6:1-2, Mk 16:16-18, etc.)

As I have said before, the doctrine of "Asking Jesus into your heart" does not exist in the Bible, and personally I would come very close to calling it a lie from the pit of hell, because it falsely assures people that they are "saved" just because they have 'prayed a little prayer'. It is very dishonest and totally unscriptural. So we know that a basic "New Testament Christian" is someone who has:

(1) Repented

(2) Been Baptized (immersed) in water, and

(3) Been filled with the Holy Spirit (-accompanied by 'tongues', as far as we can tell in Scripture).


So how on earth do we reach all these vast millions who are being duped with this half-Christianity of "Asking Jesus into your heart" - but never hear the full gospel? What on earth can be done to get this message through to them?

This is a burden that is very much on my heart. And I am convinced that only the coming "John-the-Baptist" ministries will have the anointing to break through the walls of 'Religion' to reach these people with the truth. We are talking about millions upon millions of precious souls here. And they are people who DO BELIEVE in God. But they have been lied-to, and the real truth has been denied them.

I am convinced that the coming harvest will BEGIN IN THE CHURCH. It will begin with converting the "CHRISTIANS". -This has always been God's order. "First in Jerusalem, then in Judea...."

I am deeply burdened for the church in the West. Let the new "Charles Finneys" arise. Let the trumpet sound go forth. The message of PIERCING REPENTANCE must be heard in the land once again. And the idol of "Mammon" must surely be one of it's key targets.

I am convinced that such prophets must arise for Revival to come to the West in these days. "For the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword." -May this mighty sword be brought to bear on the walls of Religion and false 'assurance' in these days.


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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2006/6/8 12:51Profile
enid
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Joined: 2006/5/22
Posts: 2680
Nottingham, England

 Re: TODAY'S "UNSAVED" CHURCH by Andrew Strom

Great article and not to be ignored. It is scary when you think of the level of people who attend church and are yet not saved. Should they die now they would spend eternity in hell. One wonders of the pastors amd ministers who are not saved themselves, 'the blind leading the blind'. Still, God's arm is not shortened that He cannot saved. He can and He will in answer to our prayers. Help us Lord, we need you!

 2006/6/8 15:32Profile
lastblast
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Joined: 2004/10/16
Posts: 528
Michigan

 Re:

Quote:
One wonders of the pastors amd ministers who are not saved themselves, 'the blind leading the blind'. Still, God's arm is not shortened that He cannot saved. He can and He will in answer to our prayers. Help us Lord, we need you!



Absolutely!! Andrew's teaching addresses what Paris Reidhead speaks in his message on repentance. He shares about a man who was an elder for 23 years-----THEN he came to know the Lord----really know Him. I'm pretty sure this is not an uncommon thing in today's church(unsaved people in leadership). It is encouraging to see that the Lord is doing a work of evangelism within the confessing Body of Christ. Those converted from false salvations can be an incredible witness of what true salvation is and what it is not. Blessings in Him, Cindy


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Cindy

 2006/6/8 20:15Profile
RobertW
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Joined: 2004/2/12
Posts: 4636
St. Joseph, Missouri

 Re:

Quote:
Cindy's: It is encouraging to see that the Lord is doing a work of evangelism within the confessing Body of Christ. Those converted from false salvations can be an incredible witness of what true salvation is and what it is not.



Amen. Andrew preaches just like he writes, in case one may be wondering. He has a heart to reach the lost within the church as well as those who are down and out (the poor, etc.).

The problem is, that he has found difficulty getting in to preach in traditional churches and church settings. He has taken the ministry to the streets and other unique venues. I think we need to pray for Andrew and those Churches where God may desire him to minister. Everything in God's timing.


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Robert Wurtz II

 2006/6/8 20:30Profile
wyattearp
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Joined: 2006/1/28
Posts: 48


 Re: TODAY'S "UNSAVED" CHURCH by Andrew Strom

Greg
If I may I would like to add my two cents here in the hopes it would be helpful.

In regards to biblical salvation I would add to your list of things that must happen "Believe"

We must exercise "repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" as it says in Acts

I remember it this way
Repent
Believe
Baptised
Received

I must politely disagree with your statement that people "NEVER get the opportunity to find out about full salvation". They have the same opportunities you and I have had but they are not hungry for anything more. They want just enough religion to make them think that they are safe from hell but not so much as to interfere with there love affair with the world.

I am not one to write longs posts but I must add that what you have said about "baptised pagans" as Havner called them is right on the money. Lest any should think your post uncharitable, I know something of which you speak. I "prayed a prayer" in 1975, professed to be a christian for 20 years, and was licensed to preach with the AG. Then I got saved in 1994.

 2006/6/8 22:19Profile
RobertW
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Joined: 2004/2/12
Posts: 4636
St. Joseph, Missouri

 Re:

Quote:
I must politely disagree with your statement that people "NEVER get the opportunity to find out about full salvation". They have the same opportunities you and I have had but they are not hungry for anything more.



Hi Wyatt,

Actually this article is a post of an article by repentance preacher and revival historian Andrew Strom. I do think I agree with your point though. Many folk could walk closer to God if they just would. The preacher certainly is not twisting their arm or anything to keep them where they are. In a broader sense I think Andrew is trying to say that these folk need to be challenged with the truth so as not to get the false impression they are OK when they are really not. Finney used to call it, "flushing them out." BUT, if these people end up in hell the preacher's lukewarmness will be NO excuse for them.

God Bless,

-Robert


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Robert Wurtz II

 2006/6/9 7:22Profile





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